Economics

Arthshodh, the Economics Research Cell of Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, is a pioneering initiative aimed at fostering a research-oriented academic environment. Rooted in the principles of exploration, creativity, and collaboration, Arthshodh provides undergraduate students with a structured platform to engage in interdisciplinary economic research, develop critical thinking, and contribute to contemporary economic discourse.

Shared below are details of the events conducted by the cell during 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025

1. Orientation Program (25th September 2024): The academic year commenced with an Orientation Program to introduce new students to the research cell. During this session, last year’s research projects were presented by the Former Principal Investigators. The program equipped students with knowledge about research methodologies, data collection, analysis, and report writing, inspiring them to engage in research actively. 

2. Data Quest (10th February 2025): It was an engaging and insightful event where participants, working in teams of two, analysed real economic data to identify trends shaping the world. Each team was assigned an economic variable such as unemployment, inflation, GDP, demand, price, population, or related goods prices. They collected data from reputable sources over the past ten years, organized it in tabular form, and presented significant trends and impactful events related to their assigned variable. This event enhanced participants’ analytical and data interpretation skills. 

3. One-Day Online Workshop on Research Methodology (22nd March 2025): The cell successfully hosted a one-day online research methodology workshop with participation from around 80 students. The workshop aimed to provide hands-on training in research techniques and methodologies to enhance students’ analytical skills. The technical sessions were delivered by esteemed expert: Dr. Shruti Aggarwal(Senior Researcher, National Institute of Urban Affairs, New Delhi) provided insights into decoding research , while Prof. Indu Chaudhary (Professor, University of Delhi) emphasized crafting research questions and conducting literature reviews. Dr. R. Sai Shiva Jayanth (Assistant Professor, IIM Vishakhapatnam) discussed academic writing, publication ethics, and plagiarism awareness, and Dr. Himanshu Pokhriyal (Principal Statistician, Novartis) conducted a hands-on session on data visualization & analysis techniques. 

4. Paper Presentation Event (5th April 2025): This event is scheduled to host students from various colleges across India who will present their research findings. Till now, it has garnered 56 research abstracts from students across India, reflecting a broad spectrum of economic thought and inquiry. This event will serve as a platform for budding researchers to showcase their work, receive feedback from experts, and engage in intellectual discussions. 

5. Research Projects: The research divisions of Arthshodh, both micro and macro, are actively working on research projects sponsored by St. Xavier’s College, Jaipur. The research projects are expected to be completed by April 2025, after which they will be published in the institution’s journal. Both divisions of the research cell – micro and macro have been consistently working on 2 independent research projects:

Shared below are the details of the project undertaken by the micro team:

Title: The Influence of Perceived Quality, Features and Social Status on Student’s Preferences for Branded Smartphones in the colleges of University of Delhi 

In the era governed by surveillance capitalism, the domestic manufacturers need to shape their strategies based on consumer preference. This study was undertaken with the principal objective of examining the extent to which perceived quality, technological features, and the desire for social status influence the proclivity of students to purchase branded smartphones. A survey based quantitative method was adopted to analyse how variables such as price, camera quality, storage capacity, brand popularity, social status etc. affect the likelihood of purchasing a smartphone. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire in physical and online mode. For analytical rigour, various statistical instruments were employed, including measures of internal reliability, Variance Inflation Factor (VIF), and regression analysis. The results show that battery capacity has a significant impact on smartphone preference followed by brand popularity and social status. Price of the phone also has a significant effect on the likelihood of purchase, more so since students are generally dependent on their family and face budget constraints. All these findings reflect that domestic manufacturers should focus on their brand image in the market and manufacture budget friendly smartphones.  

Shared below are the details of the project undertaken by the macro team:

Title: Automation and Employment in India: Challenges and Opportunities in the Age of AI 

The research paper explores the complex interplay between technological progress and labor market dynamics in the context of India’s manufacturing sector. It analyses the fourth industrial revolution driven by AI and automation. The study utilizes quantitative data and econometric models to highlight how automation reduces demand for routine, low to middle skilled jobs while simultaneously increasing demand for highly skilled technical roles. Despite India’s low robot density in manufacturing, the impact is becoming pronounced, particularly in sectors like textiles, electronics, and automobiles. Informal sector workers, who comprise the majority of India’s labour force, are especially vulnerable due to a lack of social security and access to reskilling. Drawing parallels from the U.S. labour market transformation, the study underscores how skill-biased technological change is fuelling wage polarization and job displacement. We find that occupations involving repetitive tasks have witnessed significant decline in employment, and higher education continues to be a major determinant of labour market resilience in an increasingly automated economy. 

The paper also critically engages with theoretical debates—whether automation will replace or augment jobs—and reviews global literature to present varied impacts at firm and aggregate levels. It proposes a robust, multidimensional policy framework to manage these transitions in India. Recommendations include sector-specific minimum wages, automation-linked tax incentives for firms investing in reskilling, and AI-driven labour market forecasting. It emphasizes curriculum reforms in education, lifelong learning platforms, social safety nets for displaced workers, and stronger labour protection in AI-integrated sectors. Additionally, it stresses rural employment strategies and support for MSMEs to ensure equitable access to automation benefits. The paper concludes by reaffirming the dual potential of automation to both displace and create employment, advocating for adaptive and inclusive policies that promote technological advancement while safeguarding social equity. It positions India at a pivotal juncture, where strategic decisions will determine whether automation becomes a tool for inclusive growth or a force for deepening inequality.

This initiative will contribute valuable insights to the field of economics and further enhance the reputation of the research cell.